SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS - Pewaukee, WI
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382 episodes
Title: The Prodigal Son Text: Luke 15:11-32 Theme: In this parable Jesus teaches that the Fathers love is for all. We tend to fall into either camp of the younger son or the older son. Sometimes we think we can earn Gods favor if we work for it - like the younger son. Other times we can fool ourselves and think that God owes us his love because we have been faithful - like the older son. May we all come to grasp the Gospel, that says the Fathers love is given freely to all who would receive it. He is the one who welcomes us into his family, and as his children we live in response to his love.
Text: Luke 16:19-31 Title: The Rich Man and Lazarus Theme: The Great Reversal - Jesus is talking directly to the Pharisees (with others in earshot, of course) about the condition of their heart. Earlier in his teachings, he said things like "The first shall be last and the last, first..." This is a parable to show the eternal impact of these words. Outer appearances mean nothing - its the condition of someones heart that sets their eternal course. We will explore the nuances of the parable to help people evaluate their condition of their hearts...
Text: Luke 11:14-28 Title: The Strongman and Empty House Theme: Satan seems to think that hes got the upper-hand (strongman) position when it comes to controlling peoples lives - but there is one who is Stronger who is coming to defeat the strongman and take away his possession. This is the parable revealing the nature of the mission of Jesus - not only Who he is (liberator) but how hes going to do it (defeat the strength of evil). This is a parable highlighting the Power of Jesus - and giving people an invitation: Receive Him and Be Filled By His Presence.
Text: Mark 12:1-12 Title: Parable of the Tenants Theme: In response to the Religious leaders trying to trap Jesus into saying something blasphemous, He responds with a story that tells about tenants who have been put in charge of a vineyard and how they ignore the will of the owner and even kill his son to get the vineyard for themselves. The story highlights how the religious leaders were holding Israel captive by their leadership and their rigid application of the Torah - going so far as to claim more rights to Israel than God himself... We can see ourselves in this text as we can sometimes claim to have more authority over our lives and Gods plan than God does himself... In both cases, the Father wasnt afraid to send his Son - and his Son will be the way through which restoration of the vineyard will be accomplished whether they like it / know it or not.
Text: Luke 10:25-37 Title: The Good Samaritan Theme: Jesus calls us to love one another in radical ways that go beyond superficial niceties. It sounds like a sweet sentiment at first, but it is a calling that can quickly become uncomfortable and inconvenient when we actually put this kind of love into practice. Loving our neighbor as Jesus calls us to love our neighbor requires mercy first. As we are given mercy by our heavenly Father, its that mercy that stirs us to have mercy on one another.
Text: Matt 9:14-17 Title: Out With Old, In With the New! Theme: As Jesus begins his ministry and it doesnt seem to make sense to people, he uses the illustration of trying to put new wine into old skins - it doesnt work because the new isnt the same as the old. Its still wine, but to enjoy it, you need a new skin. We often try to confine our reception of God to our old lives or our current belief systems - when Jesus is inviting us into something completely new! Everything we are and do is reshaped by what he is bringing - it conforms to him, not the other way around. And this is most powerfully seen in how he bring salvation. Its not through all of the old ways we thought, but hes doing something new...
Text: Jonah 1:1-17 Title: Running from God Theme: Jonah attempts to run from God - and in so doing, tests Gods patience. He sins against God by doing the exact opposite of what he asked... God deals with this sin in a unique way: He exposes it, He reveals consequences for it, then He swallows it... This is a picture of how God deals with our disobedience. Well use the story of Jonah 1 to help us come to terms with our own sin and discover what God does about it.
1 peter 1: 3-5
Text: Matthew 28: 16-20 Title: The Great Commission - Where It All Began Theme: Jesus gives His followers a new calling on their lives - they are sent out to make disciples by baptizing and teaching others what Jesus has taught us. A promise is given at the same time - Jesus will be with us always.
Triumphal Entry - Pastor Afam Ikanih - Mt 21:1-11
Matthew 10:1-15 "Gods Kingdom in Your Hands" Theme: Jesus sends the disciples out to deliver the kingdom of God into peoples lives - heal people, cast out demons and share a msg of Peace.
Text: Mt 8:5-13 Title: Simple Faith Theme: As Jesus begins to act on the authority that he spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount, he does so among both Jews and Gentiles - and here, Matthew highlights the faith of an outsider as even greater than that of the insiders. As Jesus unpacks what the Kingdom of God is all about, Matthew is helping the readers see thats not just about the Jewish nation, but it includes the Gentiles too - and might even be better received and understood by the outsider!
Key to teaching: Giving away is the antidote for materialism - we are more blessed to give than to receive - it is a joy to be able to participate in the Kingdom of God through the gifts that God gives us. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Text: Matthew 6:19-21, 24; Matthew 13:44
Using the Parable of the Talents, we will discuss these 2 key points: 1) God owns everything and we are His stewards and 2) My heart always goes where I put Gods money. While we are here on earth, were giving the opportunity to invest in the things that God would invest in - and let our hearts follow our investment in the eternal Kingdom of God.
Text: Isaiah 40:1-5 In this passage we have a message of comfort for God’s people in their hurting. The delightful truth of these verses is that the Lord is FOR his people. And if God is for us, who can be against us? (cf. Romans 8:31). God’s plan will be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven!
Text: Isaiah 35:1-10 Theme: Isaiah paints a picture of rivers filling deserts, of blindness seeing, deafness hearing, lameness walking... God coming to bring life and strength and renewal to worn out things, tired things, weak things = Jesus did this when he healed, taught, encouraged, loved and served - AND he continues to do it for us today - AND he will do it in an eternally tangible way someday when he returns. We will really focus on the idea of Jesus coming to bring Strength to weak knees and salvation to the anxious...
Text: Isaiah 11:1-9 Gods Word gives hope that there is still life in the midst of death. Out of the stump of Jesse a shoot will come forth. Jesus fulfills this prophecy in Isaiah 11. His victory through His death and resurrection bring peace to Gods creation today in a spiritual reality, and Jesus will come again to fully bring to reality the promise of Paradise restored.
Text: Isaiah 9:2-7 "On those dwelling in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone! ... For to us a child is born and to us a son is given..." Talk about good news in dark days! What brings joy in the midst doom and darkness? The promise of new days ahead - the promise of light and victory - the promise of an end of the darkness... This is what God has spoken - this is what God has done - and this is what God will do in even greater ways yet to come.
Disruption is a guarantee in life - its unavoidable. How we react to disruption, however, is a decision we make. Jesus invites us into a life of obedience, and it is always disruption that moves us along this path. In the New Testament we can learn from both Peter (Luke 5:1-11) and the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-30). Main Text: Luke 5:1-11 Other Texts: Matthew 19:16-30; Matthew 16:24-28; John 20:24-31
